"Our world’s caves are places of wonder, mystery and majestic beauty. Show caves around the world are embracing their role in protecting and preserving caves and providing a place for people to learn about these special, natural, cultural and historical resources.
Show caves also play another important nature tourism role of sustainable economic development, providing jobs, and helping the economy of their regions.”
1st Lusitanian Meeting of Underground Tourism
| Name: | 1st Lusitanian Meeting of Underground Tourism |
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| Type of event: | Meeting |
| Organiser: | Grutas de Mira de Aire |
| Date: | 24. October 2025 - 26. October 2025 |
| Country: | Portugal |
Final congress numbers
| Number of registered participants: | Full participants: 65, Accompanying persons - , Total: 65 |
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Programme
From October 24 to 26, the town of Mira de Aire hosted the 1st Lusitanian Meeting of Underground Tourism, the latest ISCA Meeting organised together with the Spanish Show Caves Association. The gathering took place at the Casa da Cultura de Mira de Aire, providing the perfect setting for three days of exchange, learning, and celebration of underground heritage. Over the course of three days, more than 60 representatives from show caves and mines in Spain, Portugal, the United States, Italy, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, and Georgia came together to share knowledge and experiences.
The meeting featured a dynamic program combining presentations, round tables, and field visits to some of the region’s most remarkable sites. Participants explored the Grutas de Mira de Aire, one of Portugal’s most famous show caves and a founding member of ISCA, as well as the Porto de Mós Castle, the Karst Study Center / Living Science Center Alviela (Carsoscópio), Grutas de Santo António, and the Industrial and Handicraft Textiles Museum (MIAT). Each visit offered a unique perspective on how nature, history, and culture intertwine in the region’s landscape.
The conference sessions included presentations and speeches from different experts, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between national and international networks. In addition, a wide range of topics were discussed, such as cave accessibility, sustainability, and management practices.
One of the most memorable moments of the event was the gala dinner held inside the Grutas de Mira de Aire, where participants enjoyed a truly unforgettable atmosphere surrounded by the natural beauty of the underground world. Attendants enjoyed a live fado show (Portuguese traditional music) and it was a perfect conclusion to a program that successfully combined professional exchange with cultural and social experiences.
ISCA would like to express its gratitude to the hosts at Grutas de Mira de Aire, the organizing team, and all participants who traveled from near and far to make this first Lusitanian Meeting such a success, including countries such as the USA, Georgia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Germany among others. The event marked an important step toward greater cooperation and visibility for underground tourism in Portugal and beyond, and it also set a promising foundation for future editions to come.
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